Adhyaya 119: Ritual Regulations on Permissible Foods for Offering and Consumption

Verse 1

अथ भोज्यनियमविधिः ॥ धरण्युवाच ॥ एवं कर्मविधिं श्रुत्वा सर्वसंसारमोक्षणम् ॥ प्रसन्नवदनं देवं पुनर्वाक्यमुवाच ह ॥

Now (follows) the procedure concerning the regulation of food (offerings). Pṛthivī said: Having heard this ritual procedure—described as bringing release from the entire cycle of worldly existence—she again addressed the god, whose face was serene.

Verse 2

एवं महौजसं कर्म तव मार्गानुसारतः ॥ त्वत्तस्तु प्रापणविधिस्तव प्रीत्या मया श्रुतः ॥

Thus, this act (rite) of great potency has been heard in accordance with your prescribed path; and from you, moreover, the procedure for prāpaṇa has been heard by me, out of regard for your satisfaction.

Verse 3

केन द्रव्येण संयुक्तं तन्ममाचक्ष्व माधव ॥ वसुधाया वचः श्रुत्वा वराहः प्रीतमानसः ॥

“With which substance should it be combined? Tell me that, O Mādhava.” Hearing the words of Vasudhā (Earth), Varāha became pleased in mind.

Verse 4

उवाच धर्मसंयुक्तं धर्मज्ञो वाक्यकोविदः ॥ श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ येन मन्त्रेण संयुक्तो मम प्रापणकं नयेत् ॥

He spoke words connected with dharma—he who knew dharma and was skilled in speech. Śrī Varāha said: “When conjoined with which mantra should one perform my prāpaṇaka?”

Verse 5

सप्त व्रीहींस्ततो गृह्य पयसासह संयुतम् ॥ परमं तस्य शाकानि मधूकोदुम्बरं तथा ॥

(Varāha instructs:) “Then, taking seven portions of rice and combining them with milk, together with the finest vegetables, include madhūka and udumbara as well.”

Verse 6

एते चान्ये च बहवः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ कर्मण्याश्च त एतेषां ये मया परिकीर्तिताः ॥

“These and many others—by the hundreds and even by the thousands—are also suited for ritual use; among them are those that have been enumerated by me.”

Verse 7

व्रीहीणां च प्रवक्ष्यामि उपयोग्यानि माधवि ॥ एकाग्रं मानसं कृत्वा प्रापणं शृणु सुन्दरि ॥

“I shall also describe the kinds of rice that are suitable, O Mādhavī. Making your mind single-pointed, listen, O fair one, to the prāpaṇa (procedure).”

Verse 8

धर्मचिल्लिकशाकं च सुगन्धं रक्तमालिकौ ॥ दीर्घशालिमहाशाली वरकुङ्कुममाक्षिकौ ॥

“(These are:) dharma-cillika greens, and the varieties called Sugandha and Rakta-mālikā; also Dīrgha-śālī and Mahā-śālī; and the varieties called Vara-kuṅkuma and Ākṣika.”

Verse 9

आमोदा शिवसुन्दर्यौ शिरीकाकुलशालिकाः ॥ विविधं यावकान्नं च ज्ञेयान्येतानि कर्मणि ॥

“(Also) Āmodā and Śiva-sundarī, and the Śirīkākula-śālikā varieties; and various preparations of yāvaka-grain—these are to be recognized as applicable in ritual action.”

Verse 10

श्यामाकमिति चोक्तानि कर्माण्यानि वसुन्धरे ॥ कर्माण्यानि च शाकानि विजानीहि वसुन्धरे ॥

“‘Śyāmāka’ (a kind of millet) and other items are declared fit for ritual acts, O Vasundharā. Know also, O Vasundharā, which vegetables are suitable for such sacred rites.”

Verse 11

एतानि प्रतिगृह्णामि यच्च भागवतं प्रियम् ॥ मार्गमांसं वरं छागं शासं समनुयुज्यते ॥

“These I accept, together with whatever is dear to the devoted (bhāgavata). Among meats, venison is held to be superior; goat is praised, and it is said to be properly employed according to prescription.”

Verse 12

एतानि प्रापणे दद्यान्मम चैतत्प्रियावहम् ॥ युञ्जानो वितते यज्ञे ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे ॥

“One should give these at the time of distribution; for me, this brings what is pleasing. When the sacrifice (yajña) is duly extended, these gifts should be employed for a Brāhmaṇa who has mastered the Veda.”

Verse 13

भागो ममास्ति तत्रापि पशूनां छागलस्य च ॥ माहिषं वर्जयेन्मह्यं क्षीरं दधि घृतं ततः ॥

“There is a share for me there as well—among animal offerings, and specifically of the goat. For my sake one should avoid buffalo; instead offer milk, curd (dadhi), and ghee.”

Verse 14

वर्जयेत्तत्र मांसानि यजुषा वैष्णवोऽश्नुते ॥ परं पायसमपि वर्ज्यानि तन्मांसं चेतकः खुरे ॥

“In that context one should avoid meats; the Vaiṣṇava partakes only in a regulated manner, together with the Yajus-formulae. Even the finest pāyasa (sweet rice) is to be avoided if it is connected with that meat—so teaches this passage.”

Verse 15

पक्षिणां च प्रवक्ष्यामि ये प्रयोज्या वसुन्धरे ॥ ये चैव मम क्षेत्रेषु उपयुज्यन्ति नित्यशः ॥

I shall also declare, O Vasundharā, which birds are to be employed upon the earth—those that are regularly used within my sacred precincts.

Verse 16

लावकं वार्त्तिकं चैव प्रशस्तं च कपिञ्जलम् ॥ एते चान्ये च बहवः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

The lāvaka and the vārttika, and the praised kapiñjala—these and many others, in hundreds and indeed in thousands, are enumerated as suitable.

Verse 17

मम कर्मणि योग्याः ये ते मया परिकीर्तिताः ॥ यस्त्वेतत्तु विजानीयात्कर्मकर्ता तथैव च ॥

Those that are fit for my rite have been enumerated by me. And the one who understands this is indeed a proper performer of the ritual.

Verse 18

नापराध्नोति स नरो मम चोक्तं वचः प्रियॆ ॥ ते च भोज्याश्च माङ्गल्या मम भक्तसुखावहाः ॥

That person commits no fault, O beloved, when acting according to my stated word. And those things are fit to be eaten and auspicious, bringing well-being to my devotees.

Verse 19

कर्मण्या मुद्गमाषा वै तिलकङ्गुकुलित्थकाः ॥ गवेदुकं महामोहं मकुष्ठमथवाहिजाम् ॥

For ritual use there are mudga and māṣa; sesame, kaṅgu, and kulīttha; gaveduka; mahāmoha; makuṣṭha; and also the grain or seed called vāhijā.

Verse 20

ततो यष्टव्यमेवं हि य इच्छेत् सिद्धिमुत्तमाम् ॥ य एतेन विधानेन यजिष्यति वसुन्धरे

Therefore one should perform the sacrifice in precisely this manner, if one seeks the highest attainment; for whoever will worship according to this prescribed procedure, O Vasundharā (Earth).